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Establishing a framework for neuropathological correlates and glymphatic system functioning in Parkinson's disease
Saranya Sundaram1, Rachel L Hughes2, Eric Peterson3
1Department of Psychology, Palo Alto University, 1791 Arastradero Rd, Palo Alto, CA, 94304, USA; Neuroscience Program, Center for Health Sciences, Bioscience Division, SRI International, 333 Ravenswood Ave, Menlo Park, CA, 94025, USA.
Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews
|May 28, 2019
Summary
The glymphatic system clears brain waste during sleep, but its function in humans, especially in Parkinson's disease (PD), needs more study. Understanding this system could lead to better PD diagnosis and treatment.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Sleep Science
- Neurodegenerative Diseases
Background:
- The glymphatic system clears neurotoxic waste during sleep.
- Glymphatic system research primarily uses animal models, leaving human function unclear.
- Neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson's disease (PD) involve toxic protein aggregates and sleep dysfunction.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the role of glymphatic system dysfunction in Parkinson's disease.
- To explore how alpha-synuclein, dopaminergic neuron loss, and sleep disturbances impact glymphatic function in PD.
- To highlight the need for human studies on glymphatic system biomarkers for PD diagnosis and treatment.
Main Methods:
- Literature review focusing on glymphatic system function, PD, and sleep.
- Analysis of proposed mechanisms linking alpha-synuclein aggregation and dopaminergic neuron degeneration to glymphatic impairment.
- Discussion of the potential of noninvasive neuroimaging for in vivo assessment of glymphatic function in PD patients.
Main Results:
- Glymphatic system dysfunction is proposed as a key factor in PD pathogenesis.
- Alpha-synuclein aggregates and dopaminergic neuron loss may compromise glymphatic flow in PD.
- Altered REM sleep, circadian rhythms, and clock gene dysfunction are linked to glymphatic disturbances in PD.
Conclusions:
- Glymphatic system disturbance plays a significant role in the clinical and neuropathological progression of neurodegenerative disorders like PD.
- Further research using noninvasive brain imaging in human PD subjects is crucial.
- Identifying functional glymphatic biomarkers could significantly improve PD clinical diagnosis and therapeutic strategies.